A Greenimalist is someone who lives green by being minimalist. Greenimalists protect the environment by buying less.
In July 2009, Hsinya and Aaron decided to become Greenimalists after watching some troubling documentaries about the typical consumer lifestyle. They realized that a simpler life with fewer possessions was the easiest way for them to protect the environment and the communities around them.
It wasn’t easy at first, since both of them grew up as typical consumers for their entire lives. But they tackled it piece by piece, first by giving up their car, then by avoiding shopping, then by giving away their possessions. They soon found themselves with extra time, less clutter, reduced environmental impact, and more money.
Half-way through the experiment, their friends became curious and asked what Greenimalist living was all about. Hsinya and Aaron realized they needed to write about their Greenimalist experiences. So they set up a blog, wrote some posts, and started some fun experiments to help others live a richer, simpler, and more compassionate life.
Aaron and Hsinya Lin are a young married couple living in Southern California.
I just discovered your writings and am really excited about reading all of them. I am not your usual reader as I am a 70 year old widow who is looking to live life to the full by letting go of stuff and doing as much as I can as long as I can. I can live frugally for the rest of my life and do not need to work. I am just so excited about being alive. I have had so much happen in my life – tragedies and blessings but I want to be able to look back with my last breath and say “it was all good.”
I love your writings and just signed up for more. I live in southern California for now so if you are around let’s meet up. Cheers
Hi Jean,
Glad this post encouraged you. If you’re a minimalist too, please share your stories with us!
As Americans, most of our lives center around materialism: acquiring and pursuing wealth, just for the sake of owning more stuff. But from dust we come, and to dust we’ll go.
There is a part of us, however, that is eternal. Have you ever heard of the gospel before? There is an afterlife awaiting us, with God as judge (note: loud video). If you are a Christian, keep going strong; don’t waste your life on material possessions.
Hi!
I was directed to your site through Miss Minimalist :)
I’m glad to see that we have similar histories and similar minimalist goals! I’m a student at Caltech now, and I’m going to visit Taiwan this summer :) Any chance you can give me tips on how to survive an entire (hot) summer in Taiwan? I know you wrote a post on the clothes you brought to Taiwan with you, but I’m going to be there for over two months! (Although, I guess increasing the length of time shouldn’t increase the amount of clothes I bring…)
Hope you have a great day!
-V
Hi Vivian,
We only brought carry-on for this 3-month trip to Taiwan. Now we’re even planning to extend our stay to at least 6 months. You really don’t need to bring tons of clothes for a longer vacation, just do laundry more frequently.
Summer in Taiwan is hot and humid. Taking a quick shower was the best way for me to wash away the sweat and cool down. I would suggest bringing shirts and skirt/shorts that are made of thin and light fabric. People here use umbrella for sun protection, and the shade keeps you cooler, too. There are AC in most public and commercial places, although AC isn’t really Greenimalist. Maybe I’ll write about living in hot summer Taiwan once the weather gets warm and I have some experience. The last time I was in Taiwan during summer was four years ago, and I wasn’t a Greenimalist back then.
Hey, found your blog through miss minimalist! Love all your ideas, very inspiring! I can’t wait to read more!
Hey hippierunner,
Awesome! By the way, are you training for a marathon? I’ve been thinking about run commuting to work in the future. Is it easy to do?
I might get a utlity cart for grocery shopping.
Hey Aaron,
I like the site! I think instead of a utility cart, you should use a bike trailer. You can carry a ton, and still go a couple miles. I bought one recently and have been using it a lot: http://www.mybikespot.com/blog_Brandon/62
Hey Brandon,
The trailer does seem pretty awesome, but recently I haven’t been biking much. Two months ago, I decided to backpack across Taiwan, and I’ve really enjoyed the flexibility of being able to move anywhere, anytime on a dime. I love bikes, but they are a hassle to carry around when I take the bus or train.
Then again, I might get a Bike Friday Tikit.
I am going to cite a post of yours in a research assignment on blogging and nutrition. Thanks for all the work you put in and God bless you guys!
Glad it helped!
Hello!
I just stumbled onto this site when I searched whether it was okay to sleep on the floor with just a floor mat. Glad that it lead me to this site. Lately, I have been thinking about getting my own house and growing my own vegetables and raising my own chickens and what not. However that dream will have to wait as I just moved to Hong Kong with my husband to pursue his career goals. Hopefully in the future when we move back to the US, we will be able to do that.
-Kelly
Hi Kelly,
That sounds great, keep us updated if you ever carry through with homesteading. Consider checking out CD3WD if you need books.